Information about the outbreak of African swine fever in Fagersta and Norberg

African swine fever has been detected in wild boar in the municipalities of Fagersta and Norberg. The infected zone consists of two parts: the core area and the outer area. There are various rules you need to follow to prevent the spread of infection. African swine fever is a contagious and fatal disease that affects wild boar and pigs, but not humans or other animals.

The following applies in the outer area

The restrictions that apply in the outer area are intended to prevent disease control work from being impeded. If you see traps, do not go near them.

In the outer area, you may not

• have dogs off leash (except in fenced areas)
• hunt wild bore
• keep pigs
• engage in forestry as
  • Pre-commercial thinning including spot wise cleaning and cleaning to promote target trees in sapling stands
  • Pre-commercial thinning prior to commercial thinning
  • Commercial thinning
  • Establish new forest roads
  • Controlled burning for regeneration or conservation purposes
  • Clearing in power-line corridors
  • Fertilize or returning ashes to the wood.

The following applies in the core area

The restrictions that apply in the core area are intended to prevent disease control work from being impeded. If you see traps, do not go near them.

In the core area, you may not

• have dogs off leash (except in fenced areas)
• organise or take part in organised competitions and large organised training sessions or events in the forest and countryside outside an established competition course (e.g. quiz walks, orienteering competitions, scout camps and large group training sessions).
• drive motorised vehicles and machines in the forest and countryside off of constructed roads, such as driving a car, four-wheeler, motocross or motor scooter
• keep pigs
• engage in forestry
• hunt wild bore

See the definitions for constructed road and established competition course further down on the page.

In the core area, you may

• move on foot, by bicycle and on horseback in forests and countryside, as well as on ice and in lakes, alone or in small groups
• perform sporting activities in forests and countryside such as skiing, ice skating, mountain biking and horse riding, alone or in small groups
• chop wood for personal use.

In such cases, it is permissible to drive motorised vehicles and machinery in the core area off of the constructed road:

• in connection with agriculture, animal husbandry or beekeeping
• on an established competition course or within a marked property boundary
• during emergency operations
• to deal with injured or sick animals and animal carcasses
• as part of the disease control work, including the Swedish Board of Agriculture's control of the restrictions in the area
• when setting up, maintaining and checking the fence around the core area.

This is a constructed road

The Swedish Board of Agriculture defines a constructed road as follows: A public road is always a constructed road. Other roads are constructed roads if the road is intended for car traffic, for example if it is paved with materials such as asphalt or gravel, or if it leads to a dwelling.

A path that is signposted as a footpath or cycle path with a circular blue sign is also considered a constructed road.

A forest road on which you could drive a car, but which is not intended for use by car traffic, is not a constructed road. If you want to use such roads, you must apply for an exemption from the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Read more under the heading “Possibility of applying for an exemption from the restrictions”.

This is an established competition course

An established competition course is

• a continuous area
• with a maintained surface
• permanently intended for and regularly used for sports training or competition.

Maintained surface means, for example, a mowed lawn, or a chipped, sanded or gravelled track.

The term established competition course does not include paved trails in forests and countryside such as illuminated trails, mountain bike trails and enduro trails. It also does not include horseback riding trails, tracks or ski trails that cross fields, meadows, pastures or forest land.